Hayland conversion to wheat production in semiarid eastern Montana: tillage, yield and hay production comparisons

When converting grass- and haylands to cultivated crop production, care must be taken to conserve and maintain soil resources while considering economic issues. Methods of breaking sod can have a bearing on erosivity, physical and chemical properties of soils, and cost of production. Our objective was to compare three methods of converting crested wheatgrass [Agropyron desertorum (Fisch. ex Link) Schult.] hayland to wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production vs. leaving the land for hay production. We initiated a study in 1990 on Dooley sandy loam (fine-loamy, mixed Typic Argiboroll) near Froid in semiarid eastern Montana, USA. Plots, replicated three times, were 12- by 30-m oriented east to west on a north-facing slope. We converted sod to cultivated crop production by: (1) moldboard plow, (2) toolbar with sweeps, (3) herbicides (no-till). Plots were fallowed until spring 1991 and then seeded to spring wheat each of the next four years. All wheat plots were fertilized with 224 kg ha⁻¹ of 18-46-0 in 1991 and 1992, and 34 kg ha⁻¹ nitrogen as 34-0-0 in 1993 and 1994. Grass was either fertilized same as wheat or not fertilized. Wheat yields averaged 2540 kg ha⁻¹ on tilled treatments and 2674 kg ha⁻¹ on no-till. Fertilized grass consistently out-yielded unfertilized, and averaged 3.2 Mg ha⁻¹ vs. 1.8 Mg ha⁻¹. Toolbar with sweeps had highest economic return of US$169.48 ha⁻¹ to pay for land, labor, and management. Moldboard plow had US$162.05 ha⁻¹. Because of herbicide costs, no-till only returned US$148.64 ha⁻¹. Unfertilized grass hay returned US$67.68 ha⁻¹ and fertilized grass hay, US$97.95 ha⁻¹. Results may be tempered because our wheat yields were high: a 2016 kg ha⁻¹ wheat yield would have returned the same as fertilized grass. Before converting grass- and hay-lands to small grains production, consideration must be given to such variables as sod conversion methods, management practices, labor requirements, market conditions, total precipitation and its temporal distribution, soil conditions, growth environment, soil conservation, and economics.     

直流伺服控制系统的转速控制

基于反馈控制原理,该文提出应用电流放大器与电压放大器系统作为控制手段,使被控制对象严格按照各种特定的转速分布特性工作,其控制系统结构简单,精度高,操作方便。在分析中,获得了输入信号与转速以及负载转矩与转速的传递函数,进而分析了对于输入信号和负载转矩的转速响应的瞬变过程。     

Earthworm biomass response to soil management in semi-arid tropical Alfisol agroecosystems

Earthworms recorded during 1989–1993 across 15 soil management treatments, comprising three different tillagexthree organic amendments (bare, farmyard manure, and rice straw) and six perennial ley treatments, belonged to two endogeic species, Octochaetona phillotti (Michaelsen) and Lampito mauritii Kinberg, while in a nearby undisturbed natural revegetation area three species were found, including the above two and Octonochaeta rosea (Stephenson). The earthworm biomass showed significant temporal and spatial variations and was higher during the post monsoon period than in the early rainy season. No worm biomass was recorded during the dry season. In the tillage and organic amendment treatments, the biomass was drastically reduced from September 1989 to September 1991 after the application of carbofuran and some herbicides, and was significantly reduced during these two years compared to that of 1992. The maximum monthly earthworm biomass ranged between 2.5 and 17.9 g m^-2 across the treatments and increased several-fold in the nearby natural revegetation area (75.9 g m^-2). It significantly increased in perennial ley treatments compared to annual treatments with organic amendments. Thus the earthworm biomass varied significantly (P<0.01) across the 15 treatments, indicating discernible effects of soil management.Visiting Scientist (under the Rockefeller Foundation Environmental Research Fellowship in International Agriculture)     

Long-term tillage and rotation effects on soil microbial biomass,carbon and nitrogen

Summary Three mollisols, typical of the Palouse winter wheat region of eastern Washington and northern Idaho, were analyzed for microbial biomass, total C and total N after 10 years of combined tillage and rotation treatments. Treatments included till, no-till and three different cereal-legume rotations. All crop phases in each rotation were sampled in the same year. Microbial biomass was monitored from April to October, using a respiratory-response method. Microbial biomass, total C and total N were highest under no-till surface soils (0–5 cm), with minimal differences for tillage or depth below 5 cm. Microbial biomass differences among rotations were not large, owing to the relative homogeneity of the treatments. A rotation with two legume crops had the highest total C and N. Microbial biomass was significantly higher in no-till surface soils where the current crop had been preceded by a high-residue crop. The opposite was true for the tilled plots. There was little change in microbial biomass over the seasons until October, when fresh crop residues and rains had a strong stimulatory effect. The seasonal pattern of biomass in no-till surface soils reflected the dry summer/winter rainfall climate of the region. The results of this study show that numerous factors affect soil microbial biomass and that cropping history and seasonal changes must be taken into account when microbial biomass data are compared.Scientific paper no. 7634     

Spatial modeling of wind speed around windbreaks

This paper presents a model to integrate windbreak shelter effects into a Geographic Information System (GIS). The GIS procedure incorporates the 1999 version windbreak sub-model of the Wind Erosion Prediction System (WEPS). Windbreak shelter is modeled in terms of friction velocity reduction, which is a function of wind speed and direction, distance from the barrier, windbreak height, porosity, width, and orientation. A first application of the model was conducted at a study area with an extensive windbreak network in England (Thetford, East Anglia). Windbreak characteristics (windbreak type, height, width, porosity, and location) were recorded. Porosity was estimated from digitized B/W silhouettes. To evaluate the network effectiveness, a windbreak network shelter index (SI) was proposed in terms of average reduction of friction velocity over the area due to network shelter. The network was found to give good protection, but the windbreak distribution was not optimal in relation to the wind vector distribution.     

开垦对黑土有机碳在有机无机复合体分配的影响

本文研究了不同开垦年限黑土粘粒、粉砂和细砂级复合体中有机碳的分布特征及其变化规律,结果表明,黑土有机无机复合体组成以细砂级复合体为主,粘粒及粉砂级复合体次之。随着开垦年限的延长,黑土耕层和犁底层土壤粒粘级复合体的含量均有不同程度的增加,而粉粒及细砂级复合体的含量相应减少;黑土耕层各复合体中有机碳含量均明显减少,犁底层亦表现出降低的趋势。犁底层各复合体中有机碳含量占土壤有机碳含量的百分数表现各异,在粘粒级复合体中随着开垦年限延长趋于增加,而在粉粒和细砂级复合体中趋于减少。黑土耕层土壤粘粒级复合体中有机碳含量与粘粒级复合体含量呈明显的负相关,粉砂和细砂级复合体中有机碳含量与粉砂和细砂级复合体含量则呈明显的正相关。     

Assessment of tillage translocation and tillage erosion by hoeing on the steep land in hilly areas of Sichuan, China

Most of the tillage erosion studies have focused on the effect of tractor-plough tillage on soil translocation and soil loss. Only recently, have a few studies contributed to the understanding of tillage erosion by manual tillage. Furthermore, little is known about the impact of tillage erosion in hilly areas of the humid sub-tropics. This study on tillage erosion by hoeing was conducted on a purple soil (Regosols) of the steep land, in Jianyang County, Sichuan Province, southwestern China (30°24′N and 104°35′E) using the physical tracer method.

The effects of hoeing tillage on soil translocation on hillslopes are quite evident. The tillage transport coefficients were 26–38 kg m⁻¹ per tillage pass and 121–175 kg m⁻¹ per tillage pass respectively for k₃- and k₄-values. Given that there was a typical downslope parcel length of 15 m and two times of tillage per year in this area, the tillage erosion rates on the 4–43% hillslopes reached 48–151 Mg ha⁻¹ per year. The downslope soil translocation is closely related to slope gradient. Lateral soil translocation by such tillage is also obvious though it is lower than downslope soil translocation. Strong downslope translocation accounts for thin soil layers and the exposure of parent materials/rocks at the ridge tops and on convexities in the hilly areas. Deterioration in soil quality and therefore reduction in plant productivity due to tillage-induced erosion would be evident at the ridge tops and convex shoulders.     

Tillage effects on microbial biomass and nutrient distribution in soils under rain-fed corn production in central-western Mexico

Quantifying how tillage systems affect soil microbial biomass and nutrient cycling by manipulating crop residue placement is important for understanding how production systems can be managed to sustain long-term soil productivity. Our objective was to characterize soil microbial biomass, potential N mineralization and nutrient distribution in soils (Vertisols, Andisols, and Alfisols) under rain-fed corn (Zea mays L.) production from four mid-term (6 years) tillage experiments located in central-western, Mexico. Treatments were three tillage systems: conventional tillage (CT), minimum tillage (MT) and no tillage (NT). Soil was collected at four locations (Casas Blancas, Morelia, Apatzingán and Tepatitlán) before corn planting, at depths of 0–50, 50–100 and 100–150 mm. Conservation tillage treatments (MT and NT) significantly increased crop residue accumulation on the soil surface. Soil organic C, microbial biomass C and N, potential N mineralization, total N, and extractable P were highest in the surface layer of NT and decreased with depth. Soil organic C, microbial biomass C and N, total N and extractable P of plowed soil were generally more evenly distributed throughout the 0–150 mm depth. Potential N mineralization was closely associated with organic C and microbial biomass. Higher levels of soil organic C, microbial biomass C and N, potential N mineralization, total N, and extractable P were directly related to surface accumulation of crop residues promoted by conservation tillage management. Quality and productivity of soils could be maintained or improved with the use of conservation tillage.     

单轴振动电机横置的高速振动筛理论研究

将单轴振动电机横置于筛体上作为高速振动筛的振动源，通过筛体的动力学分析，建立了筛体的运动微分方程，从中解得筛体的运动方程及筛体的运动轨迹方程。理论分析表明：筛体作由随其质心的平动和绕质心的摆动组成的平面运动，筛面上点的运动轨迹为变化的椭圆，引起筛体摆动的因素是振动电机相对筛体质心在水平和垂直方向的位移以及筛体质心到弹簧支撑面的距离。就振动电机相对筛体质心的位移对筛面运动状态的影响进行了计算机模拟，找出了它们之间的相互关系，从理论上论述了振动电机位移对筛分性能的影响。     

曲轴摆缸式阀配流水液压马达工作特性研究

为解决盘配流和轴配流低速大扭矩水液压马达配流副存在的磨损和泄漏问题,提出一种新型阀配流结构的低速大扭矩水液压马达,柱塞配流通过配流凸轮控制配流阀的通断实现。研究柱塞运动学规律和马达输出扭矩形成,揭示配流阀推杆位移、阀芯通断、柱塞进回液间的对应关系,分析马达角排量波动随转角、结构设计参数K的变化规律,当结构设计参数K为0.13时,马达输出扭矩波动率为6.59%。在AMESim中建立了配流阀及单柱塞配流过程的仿真模型,分析配流阀的工作特性及单柱塞动态配流性能,工作中配流阀产生最大压降为0.08MPa,进/回液配流阀无高低压串液。为验证阀配流结构在水液压马达中的工作性能,建立阀配流单柱塞试验台,并研究不同工况下的配流工作特性。试验结果表明,配流阀在马达转速0~60r/min、压力0~21MPa的工况下稳定配流,进液阀口压力在柱塞腔进回液转换时存在瞬间小幅压力波动,但对配流过程基本无影响,阀配流结构能够满足曲轴摆缸式马达柱塞的配流需求,为低速大扭矩水液压马达的配流提供了思路。